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Betrayal
Holy Week, Part 3 Tobiah was frustrated and elated at the same time. Frustrated because the crowds Jesus drew were so large Tobiah couldn’t get anywhere close. And elated because the crowds Jesus drew hung on his every word. In the days leading up to Passover, Jesus taught in the Temple, and the people were amazed at his teaching. Although they were afraid to show blatant support when Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites and blind guides and whitewashed tombs, their excitement grew daily. Jesus’s fame spread like wildfire. Even when He turned over the tables of the money changers and called the Temple Court a den of thieves,…
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A Royal Welcome
Holy Week, Part 2 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” – Matthew 21:9 Tobiah’s lungs burned. Chest heaving, he held the stitch in his side. But none of that mattered. He’d run all the way to Jerusalem to warn Jesus, but how would he find him? Jerusalem was teeming with travelers who’d arrived for the Passover. When his gasping breaths eased until he could hear something other than wheezing, he turned toward the sound of joyous singing. A huge crowd surrounded the Fish Gate. They waved palm branches and sang the song traditionally sung when…
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A Pretender, or the Passover Lamb?
Holy Week, Part 1 The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. – Luke 22:2 In the Advent story “The Tower of the Flock,” Tobiah was among the shepherds who saw the heavenly host praising God and singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” He was among those who saw Jesus, the Savior, the Passover Lamb, on the night he was born. Thirty-three years later . . . Sunlight glinted off metal, announcing the approach of the Temple Guards. Of Simeon. Tobiah ground his teeth. Most days,…
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In Defense of Biblical Fiction
In college, I took a course on French Medieval literature. In it we studied a French miracle. The common people had no ability to read the Bible for a multitude of reasons. The active suppression of Biblical literacy is a discussion for another time. Miracle plays were performed to teach biblical truths to an illiterate population. They didn’t necessarily portray miracles; the word is derived from the Latin for wonder. I love that. Because these plays truly leave you with a sense of wonder – in both senses. Awe at how holy God is and wonder as in seeking answers. One play gave me a deeper appreciation for Jesus’s sacrifice and for…
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What If? – Shepherds
“I’ve got a book for you.” That’s my tagline. This time, it’s one that will help you reflect on Jesus’s earthly ministry as we prepare to celebrate His death and resurrection. It’s a blended harmony of the Gospels broken into 40 days of readings. Although my recommendation comes a little late for this year, it’s a perfect Lenten devotion. Any time of year, though, you can enjoy this cohesive narrative compiled from the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It’s available from Amazon here. I’ve been reading it in preparation for an Easter short story I’ll be releasing soon. If you read my Advent series, you’ll be familiar with…
